This pleasure comes in the form of consumerism as the characters are also focussed on acquiring new possessions and making 'easy money'. Eve love is based on materialism, as to Gatsby, Daisy's voice is 'full fo money' and Tom's clothes were part of the attraction for Myrtle. Wilson's mistaking of the advertisement for being the eyes of God symbolises how religion has been overturned by consumerism.
Some characters acquire this money through corrupt means. We learn that Gatsby, Wolsheim and 'his men' maintain their wealth via the illegal dealings of alcohol that was prohibited during the 1920s and other possibly violently criminal means. This is a bleak reality that was also present in 1920s America and highlights the desperation for wealth and status.
Gatsby and Daisy's relationship is at the epicentre of the novel and epitomises how nearly all relationships in the novel are ultimately shallow and sources of conflict. The adultery in Tom and Myrtle, and Gatsby and Daisy's affairs sparks conflict via revenge from those who have been betrayed and ultimately leads to the deaths of 3 characters including the protagonist, Gatsby.
The less central relationships also provide evidence of a broken society. The Buchanans and Gatsby perceive their servants and workers as mere 'uniforms' and 'tray(s) of cocktails', not as real people. Fitzgerald uses Daisy's anecdote of the 'blue-nosed waitor' as a means of stressing how it is a society that overtly discriminates against its lower classes and disregards the socialistic attitudes proposed in the American Dream - that anyone regardless of wealth or background can achieve success and status.
Following Gatsby's death each living character returns to their original ;position at the the start of the novel with the exception of Nick. Some may regard Nick as being unattached from this broken society as he sees it for its worth and is able to get along with all the characters due to his comparatively strong 'sense of the fundamental decencies' and lack of materialistic desire. However others may argue that he is a catalyst in its breaking as he arranged the meeting of Daisy and Gatsby.
In all, I believe Fitzgerald clearly portrays a society that has many several groups all able to live together in harmony due to the effects and attitudes that the characters adapt from each other.
by
mwigley16 (student)
